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Conan O'Brien to pay nonstriking staffers

News Type: Event — Seeded on Fri Nov 30, 2007 10:10 AM EST
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I think this is very admiring and shows again the difference between him and Carson Daly who is resuming his show.

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{"commentId":1229442,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}
Scott (Scoop) Butki

An interesting excerpt from that article:

Earlier this week, Daly, who is not a WGA member, announced "Last Call" was resuming production, with new shows to begin airing next week.

Defending his decision to return to work, Carson said in a statement that, otherwise, "roughly 75 staff and crew would have lost their jobs."

"As a non-WGA member I feel I have supported my four Guild writers and their strike by suspending production for a month," he said

So put simply, given the choice Carson would rather break the strike than pay the writers like Conan is
going to do?

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  • 2 votes
Reply#1 - Fri Nov 30, 2007 10:13 AM EST
{"commentId":1229503,"authorDomain":"brianford"}
Brian Ford

I dunno. I guess people have to have priorities, and if 3/4 of his staff is going to be fired -- even though the details of the strike aren't pertinent to their jobs, I can understand why he might consider going back on the air.

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  • 2 votes
#1.1 - Fri Nov 30, 2007 10:38 AM EST
{"commentId":1229657,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}
Scott (Scoop) Butki

That's the arguments the networks are using - to try to make the writers look selfish.

{"commentId":1229657,"threadId":"183211","contentId":"1132405","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
  • 1 vote
#1.2 - Fri Nov 30, 2007 11:24 AM EST
{"commentId":1229686,"authorDomain":"brianford"}
Brian Ford

In some cases, though -- it's a reality. Principles are nice -- but sometimes reality has to be taken into account. I would also point out that Carson Daly probably doesn't have the monetary resources of Conan O'Brien.

Perhaps the writers should just quit their jobs and figure out a way to work for someone other than the networks? I've seen them referring to the networks as "evil" and other similar unflattering terms -- I'm not sure I support the fact that they'll work for such corporations -- just so long as the pay is right. (I almost said "pay is write" :) In other words, they want my support and are trying to gain it by playing to my views that the Networks are up there with the RIAA when it comes to scumminess -- but the writers will go right back to working for those same networks (which are anti-consumer) once their demands are met?

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  • 2 votes
#1.3 - Fri Nov 30, 2007 11:32 AM EST
{"commentId":1230423,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}
Scott (Scoop) Butki

He doesn't have the salary of Conan, that's true.

I think when striking it's almost routine to complain about the fascist leaders who they then work for again later. It's part of the game, whether its auto strikes or tv writers.

The part of the strike I expected to get most interesting were the employes who have titles like writer/producer because the networks were arguing that they are on strike as writers but still had to go to work as a producer to which they'd respond, "what would produce without writers?"

{"commentId":1230423,"threadId":"183211","contentId":"1132405","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
    #1.4 - Fri Nov 30, 2007 2:57 PM EST
    {"commentId":1245738,"authorDomain":"DrKnow"}
    Dr Know

    I do not think it is about making the writers look selfish. It is about 75% of the staff losing their jobs. Are you saying that the jobs of the writers are more important than those of the other support staff?

    If a writer/producer was a member of the Writers Guild, they would likely be open for sanctions including expulsion from the Guild for breaking the strike.

    Carson Daly is likely between a rock and a hard place. He needs his writers (25%) of the staff and he needs the non-writers (75%). It is similar to a "Sophie's Choice".

    If he really wanted to break the strike, why did he stop at all?

    {"commentId":1245738,"threadId":"183211","contentId":"1132405","authorDomain":"DrKnow"}
    • 2 votes
    #1.5 - Wed Dec 5, 2007 11:23 PM EST
    {"commentId":1253547,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}
    Scott (Scoop) Butki

    I'm going into a debate about whether a cameraman is more important than a writer but I think it'd be damn hard to do any show with written questions if nobody can write them down.

    {"commentId":1253547,"threadId":"183211","contentId":"1132405","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
    • 1 vote
    #1.6 - Sat Dec 8, 2007 7:18 PM EST
    {"commentId":1255031,"authorDomain":"DrKnow"}
    Dr Know

    If the cameraman does not frame the shot properly it turns into a radio program with a picture.

    {"commentId":1255031,"threadId":"183211","contentId":"1132405","authorDomain":"DrKnow"}
    • 1 vote
    #1.7 - Sun Dec 9, 2007 1:11 PM EST
    Reply
    {"commentId":1231606,"authorDomain":"fahrenheit"}
    Guy Montag

    This is tremendously honorable of Conan to do. Conan is outstanding and I can't wait for him to finally replace Leno, except I would then have to chose between him and Letterman.

    {"commentId":1231606,"threadId":"183211","contentId":"1132405","authorDomain":"fahrenheit"}
    • 2 votes
    Reply#2 - Fri Nov 30, 2007 9:50 PM EST
    {"commentId":1231928,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}
    Scott (Scoop) Butki

    That will be a tough choice.

    {"commentId":1231928,"threadId":"183211","contentId":"1132405","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
    • 2 votes
    #2.1 - Sat Dec 1, 2007 1:08 AM EST
    {"commentId":1232671,"authorDomain":"fahrenheit"}
    Guy Montag

    Yes. Both of them are extremely hilarious and have great band leaders (Max, Paul). I love "Great Moments In Presidential Speeches" and "Fun Facts" from Letterman and Triumph the Comic Insult Dog from Conan.

    {"commentId":1232671,"threadId":"183211","contentId":"1132405","authorDomain":"fahrenheit"}
    • 2 votes
    #2.2 - Sat Dec 1, 2007 11:56 AM EST
    Reply
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